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§ 15-207. Posting of sign relating to human trafficking

West's Annotated Code of MarylandBusiness RegulationEffective: October 1, 2019

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Business Regulation (Refs & Annos)
Title 15. Lodging Establishments (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 2. Rights and Responsibilities of Innkeepers (Refs & Annos)
Effective: October 1, 2019
MD Code, Business Regulation, § 15-207
§ 15-207. Posting of sign relating to human trafficking
Currentness
(a)(1) The Department shall design a sign that states the following:
“REPORT HUMAN TRAFFICKING: National Human Trafficking Resource Center --1-888-373-7888. CALL FOR HELP IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW:
• Is being forced to have sex without consent
• Has had an ID or documents taken away
• Is being threatened by or is in debt to an employer
• Wants to leave a job but cannot freely do so.
TOLL-FREE. 24/7. CONFIDENTIAL. INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE.
This sign is required under State law.”
(2) The sign shall:
(i) be at least 3 by 5 inches in size;
(ii) contain the text required under paragraph (1) of this subsection in English, Spanish, and any other languages required by the federal Voting Rights Act;
(iii) draw attention to the phone number of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline by showing the phone number in bold type; and
(iv) be placed on the Department website.
(b)(1) A State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency may issue a civil citation to a lodging establishment requiring it to post prominently in each guest room for 1 year the sign that is identical to the notice required to be placed on the website of the Department under subsection (a) of this section, if the lodging establishment is located on property where arrests leading to convictions for prostitution, solicitation of a minor, or human trafficking under Title 3, Subtitle 11 of the Criminal Law Article have occurred.
(2) A State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency shall consider any assistance it receives from a lodging establishment in an investigation leading to a conviction under paragraph (1) of this subsection in determining whether to issue a citation under this subsection.
(c)(1) The owner of a lodging establishment that violates subsection (b)(1) of this section is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $1,000.
(2) Each guest room that does not have a sign is not a separate violation.

Credits

Added by Acts 2010, c. 576, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010; Acts 2010, c. 577, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010. Amended by Acts 2014, c. 45, § 5; Acts 2017, c. 646, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2017; Acts 2019, c. 8, § 1, eff. March 27, 2019; Acts 2019, c. 21, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2019; Acts 2019, c. 22, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2019.
MD Code, Business Regulation, § 15-207, MD BUS REG § 15-207
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document